Stories for April 2017

Thursday, April 27th 2017 - 09:55 UTC
Major cruise line fined US$ 40 million for deliberate vessel pollution

A major cruise line with ships that call on the Caribbean will have to pay a US$40 million penalty, the largest-ever for crimes involving deliberate vessel pollution. The sentence has been imposed on Princess Cruise Lines Ltd by US District Judge Patricia Seitz in Miami, for illegally dumping oil-contaminated waste overboard and falsifying official logs to conceal the discharges.
Thursday, April 27th 2017 - 09:32 UTC
Venezuela quitting OAS; death toll of demonstrations climbs to 33

Following through on its threat, Venezuela's government announced on Wednesday it is quitting the Organization of American States, accusing the regional body of meddling in its internal affairs over weeks of political unrest. The step was taken just hours after violent clashes in Caracas between security forces and protesters during yet another march against the socialist government of President Nicolas Maduro.
Thursday, April 27th 2017 - 09:21 UTC
Trump announces plan to lower taxes; Wall Street cautious, Democrats call it a handout to the wealthy

President Donald Trump administration on Wednesday presented a sweeping plan to lower tax rates for individuals and businesses, saying it would create the biggest tax cut in United States history. However US markets slid at the close after the Trump administration outlined the tax cut plan and Democrats described it as a handout to the wealthy that would expand the deficit.
Thursday, April 27th 2017 - 09:06 UTC
Trump receives Macri at the White House; the Argentine leader spent his first day with the oil industry in Houston

Argentine president Mauricio Macri is scheduled to meet with his peer Donald Trump at the White House on Thursday to discuss trade and other bilateral agenda issues, the Venezuelan situation and regional and world affairs. This is Macri's first official visit to the US as president, although his administration had strong support and very close relations with ex president Barack Obama.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 12:15 UTC
Bribes in Brazil “institutionalized” since the fifties, reveals Emilio Odebrecht

The former CEO of the huge Brazilian builder at the center of the world's biggest corruption scandal spoke frankly about the billions in bribes and illegal financing that the Odebrecht company put into the pockets and campaign coffers of politicians and public officials.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 11:41 UTC
Brazil and Spain lay direct subsea cable rerouting communications to avoid US bugging

The Spanish and Brazilian governments have teamed up to lay an undersea cable in the Atlantic Ocean to offer fast online and cloud services to citizens of both countries by 2019, underscoring efforts to rout communications outside North America.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 09:13 UTC
US Judge blocks Trump's executive order punishing “sanctuary cities”

A US judge on Tuesday blocked an executive order by President Donald Trump that could deny billions of dollars to so-called sanctuary cities as punishment for harboring illegal immigrants.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:48 UTC
China launches its first native totally designed and built aircraft carrier

China has launched its first domestically designed and built aircraft carrier, state media said on Wednesday, as the country seeks to transform its navy into a force capable of projecting power onto the high seas. Adorned with colorful ribbons, the Type 001A ship “transferred from dry dock into the water at a launch ceremony” in the northeastern port city of Dalian, according to official broadcaster CCTV.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:39 UTC
Brexit key players: Theresa May, Juncker and Barnier meet at Downing Street

British Prime Minister Theresa May will on Wednesday hold talks with EU Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker and chief negotiator Michel Barnier, ahead of a summit to set the bloc's Brexit “red lines”. In the first such meeting between the three key players, they will discuss the upcoming negotiations on Britain's withdrawal from the European Union over dinner at May's Downing Street residence.
Wednesday, April 26th 2017 - 08:28 UTC
Tribesmen with bows and arrows clash with riot police in Brasilia on “Indigenous Week”

Thousands of Brazilian indigenous tribe members clashed with riot police Tuesday while demonstrating in the capital, Brasilia, for greater rights. Some of the indigenous people were armed with bows and arrows, while police rained tear gas onto the protesters.